Management of energy demand and energy efficiency savings from voltage optimization on electric power systems using AMI-based data analysis

ABSTRACT

A method, apparatus, system and computer program is provided for controlling an electric power system, including implementation of a voltage control and conservation (VCC) system used to optimally control the independent voltage and capacitor banks using a linear optimization methodology to minimize the losses in the EEDCS and the EUS. An energy validation process system (EVP) is provided which is used to document the savings of the VCC and an EPP is used to optimize improvements to the EEDCS for continuously improving the energy losses in the EEDS. The EVP system measures the improvement in the EEDS a result of operating the VCC system in the “ON” state determining the level of energy conservation achieved by the VCC system.

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/193,770, filed Feb. 28, 2014, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. provisional patent application 61/800,028 filed on Mar.15, 2013, which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entiretyherein. This application is also related to U.S. patent application Ser.No. 14/562,134, filed Dec. 5, 2014, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,325,174, whichis hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a method, an apparatus, a system and acomputer program for controlling an electric power system, includingcontrolling the voltage on the distribution circuits with respect tooptimizing voltage, conserving energy, reducing demand and improvingreliability. More particularly, the disclosure relates to a method ofcontrolling energy efficiency, electrical demand and customer voltagereliability using advanced metering infrastructure (“AMI”)-based dataanalysis. This method enables the direct control of customer levelsecondary voltages to optimally reduce energy usage and electricaldemand for an electric energy delivery system (EEDS). The methodexecutes voltage control using the secondary AMI-based measurements,significantly improving the accuracy of the customer voltage measurementand level, enabling the EEDS operator to improve the reliability ofcustomer voltage performance.

Electricity is commonly generated at a power station byelectromechanical generators, which are typically driven by heat enginesfueled by chemical combustion or nuclear fission, or driven by kineticenergy flowing from water or wind. The electricity is generally suppliedto end users through transmission grids as an alternating currentsignal. The transmission grids may include a network of power stations,transmission circuits, substations, and the like.

The generated electricity is typically stepped-up in voltage using, forexample, generating step-up transformers, before supplying theelectricity to a transmission system. Stepping up the voltage improvestransmission efficiency by reducing the electrical current flowing inthe transmission system conductors, while keeping the power transmittednearly equal to the power input. The stepped-up voltage electricity isthen transmitted through the transmission system to a distributionsystem, which distributes the electricity to end users. The distributionsystem may include a network that carries electricity from thetransmission system and delivering it to end users. Typically, thenetwork may include medium-voltage (for example, less than 69 kV) powerlines, electrical substations, transformers, low-voltage (for example,less than 1 kV) distribution wiring, electric meters, and the like.

The following, the entirety of each of which is herein incorporated byreference, describe subject matter related to power generation ordistribution: Engineering Optimization Methods and Applications, FirstEdition, G. V. Reklaitis, A. Ravindran, K. M. Ragsdell, John Wiley andSons, 1983; Estimating Methodology for a Large Regional Application ofConservation Voltage Reduction, J. G. De Steese, S. B. Merrick, B. W.Kennedy, IEEE Transactions on Power Systems, 1990; Power DistributionPlanning Reference Book, Second Edition, H. Lee Willis, 2004;Implementation of Conservation Voltage Reduction at Commonwealth Edison,IEEE Transactions on Power Systems, D. Kirshner, 1990; ConservationVoltage Reduction at Northeast Utilities, D. M. Lauria, IEEE, 1987;Green Circuit Field Demonstrations, EPRI, Palo Alto, Calif., 2009,Report 1016520; Evaluation of Conservation Voltage Reduction (CVR) on aNational Level, PNNL-19596, Prepared for the U.S. Department of Energyunder Contract DE-AC05-76RL01830, Pacific Northwest National Lab, July2010; Utility Distribution System Efficiency Initiative (DEI) Phase 1,Final Market Progress Evaluation Report, No 3, E08-192 (7/2008) E08-192;Simplified Voltage Optimization (VO) Measurement and VerificationProtocol, Simplified VO M&V Protocol Version 1.0, May 4, 2010; MINITABHandbook, Updated for Release 14, fifth edition, Barbara Ryan, BrianJoiner, Jonathan Cryer, Brooks/Cole-Thomson, 2005; Minitab Software,http://www.minitab.com/en-US/products/minitab/Statistical Softwareprovided by Minitab Corporation.

Further, U.S. patent application 61/176,398, filed on May 7, 2009 andU.S. publication 2013/0030591 entitled VOLTAGE CONSERVATION USINGADVANCED METERING INFRASTRUCTURE AND SUBSTATION CENTRALIZED VOLTAGECONTROL, the entirety of which is herein incorporated by reference,describe a voltage control and energy conservation system for anelectric power transmission and distribution grid configured to supplyelectric power to a plurality of user locations.

SUMMARY

Various embodiments described herein provide a novel method, apparatus,system and computer program for controlling an electric power system,including implementation of voltage control using AMI-based secondaryvoltage measurement to optimally control the voltages for load tapchanging control (LTC) transformers, voltage regulators, capacitorbanks, and distributed generation, storage and high variation loads suchas photovoltaic generation, electric vehicle charging and microgrids.

According to an aspect of the disclosure, the voltage control andconservation system (VCC) controls the electrical energy delivery system(EEDS) primary and secondary independent voltage control devices such asload tap changing control (LTC) transformers, voltage regulators,capacitor banks, and distributed generation, storage, photovoltaicgeneration, and microgrids to optimize the energy losses while improvingthe reliability of the voltage delivered to the energy usage system(EUS). The electrical energy delivery system (EEDS) is made up of anenergy supply system (ESS) that connects electrically to one or moreenergy usage systems (EUS). The energy usage system (EUS) suppliesvoltage and energy to energy usage devices (EUD) at electrical points onan electrical energy delivery system (EEDS) and the EUS is made up ofmany energy usage devices (EUD) randomly using energy at any given time.The purpose of the energy validation process (EVP) is to operate thevoltage levels of the EEDS in a manner that optimizes the energy lossesEEDS, EUS and ESS. The electrical energy supply to the electrical energydelivery system (EEDS) is measured in watts, kilowatts (kw), orMegawatts (Mw) at the supply point of the ESS and at the energy usersystem (EUS) or meter point. This measurement records the average usageof energy (AUE) over set time periods such as one hour. The energy andvoltage measurements made within the EEDS are communicated back to acentral control using a communication network for processing by the VCCwhich then issues control changes to the primary and secondary voltagecontrol devices to produce more precise and reliable voltage controlthat optimally minimizes the energy losses for the EEDS.

According to a further aspect of the disclosure, the energy validationprocess (EVP) measures the level of change in energy usage for theelectrical energy delivery system (EEDS) that is made up of an energysupply system (ESS) that connects electrically to one or more energyusage systems (EUS). The test for the level of change in energy useimprovement is divided into two basic time periods: The first is thetime period when the VCC is not operating, i.e., in the “OFF” state. Thesecond time period is when the VCC is operating, i.e., in “ON” state.Two variables must be determined to estimate the savings capability foran improvement in the EEDS: The available change in voltage created bythe VCC and the EEDS capacity for energy change with respect to voltagechange or the CVR factor. The average change in voltage is determined bydirect measurement on the advanced metering infrastructure (AMI). Thedetails regarding the calculation of the CVR factor and average voltagechange are described in patent application No. 61/789,085, entitledELECTRIC POWER SYSTEM CONTROL WITH MEASUREMENT OF ENERGY DEMAND ANDENERGY EFFICIENCY USING T-DISTRIBUTIONS, filed on Mar. 15, 2013 (“theco-pending/P006 application”), the entirety of which is incorporatedherein.

According to an aspect of the disclosure, the energy planning process(EPP) projects the voltage range capability of a given electrical energydelivery system (EEDS) (made up of an energy supply system (ESS) thatconnects electrically via the electrical energy distribution connectionsystem (EEDCS) to one or more energy usage systems (EUS)) at thecustomer secondary level (the EUS) by measuring the level of change inenergy usage from voltage management for the EEDS. The EPP can alsodetermine potential impacts of proposed modifications to the equipmentand/or equipment configuration of the EEDS and/or to an energy usagedevice (EUD) at some electrical point(s) on an electrical energydelivery system (EEDS) made up of many energy usage devices randomlyusing energy at any given time during the measurement. The purpose ofthe energy validation process (EVP) is to measure the level of change inenergy usage for the EEDS for a change in voltage level. The specificsof the EVP are covered in the co-pending/P006 application. One purposeof the EPP system of the disclosed embodiments is to estimate thecapability of the EEDS to accommodate voltage change and predict thelevel of change available. The potential savings in energy provided bythe proposed modification to the system can be calculated by multiplyingthe CVR factor (% change in energy/% change in voltage) (as may becalculated by the EVP, as described in the co-pending/P006 application)by the available change in voltage (as determined by the EPP) todetermine the available energy and demand savings over the time intervalbeing studied. The electrical energy supply to the electrical energydelivery system (EEDS) is measured in watts, kilowatts (kw), orMegawatts (Mw) (a) at the supply point of the ESS and (b) at the energyuser system (EUS) or meter point. This measurement records the averageusage of energy (AUE) at each of the supply and meter points over settime periods such as one hour.

The test for energy use improvement is divided into two basic timeperiods: The first is the time period when the improvement is notincluded, i.e., in “OFF” state. The second time period is when theimprovement is included, i.e., in “ON” state. Two variables must bedetermined to estimate the savings capability for a modification in theEEDS: The available voltage change in voltage created by themodification and the EEDS capacity for energy change with respect tovoltage change (the CVR factor, the calculation of which is described inthe co-pending/P006 application).

According to a further aspect of the disclosure, the VCC uses the EVPand the EPP to enable the full optimization of the voltage, both duringplanning and construction of the EEDS components and during theoperation of the EEDS by monitoring the EVP process to detect when thesystem changes its efficiency level. When these three processes (VCC,EVP and EPP) are operating together, it is possible to optimize theconstruction and the operation of the EEDS. The EPP optimizes theplanning and construction of the EEDS and its components and the EVP isthe measurement system to allow the VCC to optimize the operation of theEEDS. The EPP provides the configuration information for the VCC basedon the information learned in the planning optimization process. Thisfull optimization is accomplished across the energy efficiency, demandmanagement and the voltage reliability of the EEDS.

According to a further aspect of the disclosure, the EEDS can berepresented as a linear model over the restricted voltage range ofoperational voltages allowed for the EUS. This narrow band of operationis where the optimization solution must occur, since it is the band ofactual operation of the system. The linear models are in two areas. Thefirst area for use of linear models is that energy loss for the EEDCSprimary and secondary equipment losses can be represented in linear formusing some simple approximations for EEDCS characteristics of voltageand energy. This second approximation is that the voltage and energyrelationship of the EUS can be represented by the CVR factor and thechange in voltage over a given short interval. This allows the entireloss function for the EEDS over reasonably short interval and narrowranges of voltage (+/−10%) to be represented as linear functions ofmeasureable voltages at the ESS and the EUS. This linear relationshipgreatly reduces the complexity of finding the optimum operating point tominimize energy use on the EEDS. The second area for use of linearmodels is an approximation that the EUS voltages can be represented bylinear regression models based only on the EUS voltage and energymeasurements. These two approximations greatly reduce the optimizationsolution to the EEDS VCC, making the optimization process much simpler.

The calculation of the change in voltage capability is the novelapproach to conservation voltage reduction planning using a novelcharacterization of the EEDS voltage relationships that does not requirea detailed loadflow model to implement. The input levels to the EEDCSfrom the ESS are recorded at set intervals, such as one hour periods forthe time being studied. The input levels to the EUS from the EEDCS, atthe same intervals for the time being studied, are measured using theAMI system and recorded. The EEDS specific relationship between the ESSmeasurements and the EUS usage measurements is characterized using alinear regression technique over the study period. This calculationspecifically relates the effects of changes in load at the ESS to changein voltage uniquely to each customer EUS using a common methodology.

Once these linear relationships have been calculated, a simple linearmodel is built to represent the complex behavior of voltage at variousloading levels including the effects of switching unique EUS specificloads that are embedded in the AMI collected data (e.g., the dataincludes the “ON” and “OFF” nature of the load switching occurring atthe EUS). Then, the linear model for the voltages is passed to the VCCfor determining the normal operation of the EUS for specific conditionsat the ESS. Using this simple linear model is a novel method of planningand predicting the voltage behavior of an EEDS caused by modificationsto the EEDS by using the VCC.

The relationships between the modification (e.g., adding/removingcapacitor banks, adding/removing regulators, reducing impedance, oradding distributed generation) are developed first by using a simplesystem of one ESS and a simple single phase line and a single EUS with abase load and two repeating switched loads. By comparing a traditionalprimary loadflow model of the simplified EEDS to the linear statisticalrepresentation of the voltage characteristics, the linear model changescan be obtained to relate the EUS voltage changes resulting fromcapacitor bank operation. Once this is done, the effects on the EUSvoltage can be forecasted by the VCC and used to determine whether theoptimum operating point has been reached.

Once the linear model is built then the model can be used to applysimple linear optimization to determine the best method of controllingthe EEDS to meet the desired energy efficiency, demand and reliabilityimprovements.

According to a further aspect of the disclosure, the energy planningprocess (EPP) can be used to take the AMI data from multiple AMI EUSpoints and build a linear model of the voltage using the linearizationtechnique. These multiple point models can be used to predict voltagebehavior for a larger radial system (e.g., a group of contiguoustransmission elements that emanate from a single point of connection) byrelating the larger system linear characteristics to the systemoperation of capacitor banks, regulators, and LTC transformers. With thenew linear models representing the operation of the independentvariables of the EEDS, the optimization can determine the optimumsettings of the independent variables that will minimize the linearmodel of the EEDS losses. This optimum control characteristics arepassed from the EVP to the VCC in the configuration process.

According to a further aspect of the disclosure, the energy planningprocess (EPP) can be used to take the AMI data from multiple AMI EUSpoints and multiple ESS points and build a linear model of the voltageusing the linearization technique. The linear model that exists fornormal operation can be determined based on the characteristics of thelinearization. Using this normal operation model as a “fingerprint”, theother EUS points on the EEDS can be filtered to determine the ones, ifany, that are displaying abnormal behavior characteristics and theabnormal EUS points can be compared against a list of expectedcharacteristics denoting specific abnormal behavior that represents thepotential of low reliability performance. As an example, thecharacteristics of a poorly connected meter base has been characterizedto have certain linear characteristics in the model. The observed linearcharacteristics that represent this abnormal condition can be used toidentify any of the EUS meters that exhibit this behavior, using thevoltage data from AMI. This allows resolution of the abnormality beforecustomer equipment failure occurs and significantly improves thereliability of the EEDS. A set of the voltage fingerprints will bepassed by the EVP to the VCC in the configuration process. The EPP canthen use this recognition to provide alarms, change operation level forefficiency, demand or reliability improvement.

According to a further aspect of the disclosure, the energy planningprocess (EPP) can be used to take the AMI data from multiple AMI EUSpoints and multiple ESS points and build a linear model of the voltageusing the linearization technique. Using this model and the measured AMIdata the EPP can be used to project the initial group of monitoredmeters that can be used in the voltage management system to control theminimum level of voltage across the EEDS for implementation of CVR. Thisinformation is passed from the EPP to the VCC in the configurationprocess.

According to a further aspect of the disclosure, the energy planningprocess (EPP) can be used to take the AMI data from multiple AMI EUSpoints and multiple ESS points and build a linear model of the voltageusing the linearization technique. The voltage data can be used toprovide location information about the meter connection points on thecircuit using voltage correlation analysis. This method matches thevoltages by magnitude and by phase using a technique that uses thevoltage data for each meter to provide the statistical analysis. Commonphase voltage movement is correlated and common voltage movement bycircuit is identified using linear regression techniques. Thisinformation is provided by the EPP to the VCC in the configurationprocess and used to detect when voltages in the monitored group are notfrom the EEDS being controlled. This enables the VCC to stop control andreturn itself to a safe mode until the problem is resolved.

According to a further aspect of the disclosure, the VCC samples themonitored group voltages at the EUS and uses the linear models toproject the required level of independent variables required to make theEUS voltages remain in the required voltage band based on the linearregression model for the EUS location. This sampling also allows the VCCto determine when the samples are greatly deviating from the linearregression model and enable alarming and change of VCC state to maintainreliability of the EEDS.

According to a further aspect of the disclosure, the devices thatrepresent the voltage regulation on the circuit, LTC transformers,regulators, and distributed generation are assigned non overlappingzones of control in the EEDS. In each zone there is one parent deviceand for the EEDS there is also one substation parent device (node parentdevice) that controls all other zones and devices. The EEDS topologydetermines which zones are secondary to the node zone and therelationship to other zones. In each of these zones there are otherindependent devices that form child devices such as capacitor banks.These are controlled by their zone parent control. The controlprocessing proceeds by zone topology to implement the optimizationprocess for the EEDS. For each zone control device and child device amonitored group of meters are assigned and used to initiate controlpoint changes that implement the optimization process for the EEDS. Thiscontrol process only requires the configuration information from the EPPand measurements of voltages from the monitored meters at the EUS andmeasurements of the meters at the ESS to determine the optimization andcontrol the independent devices/variables of the optimization solution.

According to a further aspect of the disclosure, the non-monitoredmeters in the EEDS provide voltage exception reporting (see the US2013/0030591 publication) that is used to re-select meters that aredetected to be below the existing monitored group level for any deviceand connect them to the monitored group and disconnect meters that arenot representing the lowest/highest of the meters in the EEDS. Monitoredgroups are maintained to track the upper and lower operating levels ofthe control device block where the total population of meters affectedby the device reside.

According to a further aspect of the disclosure, the solution to theoptimization of the EEDS is determined. The first step is to define theboundary of the optimization problem. The optimization deals with theEEDS, the ESS, the EEDCS, the EUS and the energy delivery (ED) system(EDS) and involves the voltage and energy relationships in thesesystems. The second step is to determine the performance criterion. Thisperformance criterion is the energy loss from the ESS to the EUS thatoccurs in the EEDCS and the energy loss in the EUS and ED from CVR. Thefirst loss is normally less than 5% of the total controllable lossesfrom the voltage optimization. The second energy loss is theconservation voltage reduction loss in the EUS that is a combination ofall of the CVR losses in the ED connected to the EUS point and isnormally 95% of the potential controllable losses. The performancecriterion is to minimize these two losses while maintaining orincreasing the reliability of the voltage at the EUS and ED. The thirdsteps to determine the independent variable in the optimization problem.The independent variables are the voltages being controlled by the LTCtransformers, the voltage regulators, the capacitor bank position, andthe EUS/EDS voltage control such as distributed generation voltagecontrollers. Each of these are specifically represented in the controlby the VCC. The next step is creating the system model. The linear modelof the losses represent the performance criterion model. The linearmodel of the ESS to EUS voltages represents the system model for theEEDCS. The final step is to determine the constraints. In this case, theconstraints are the voltage range limits on the EUS and ED which arebased on the appropriate equipment and operating standards.

The following assumptions were made to evaluate the optimizationsolution. First, it is assumed that the loads are evenly distributed byblock, as defined in the VCC. This is a very reliable assumption sincethe blocks can be specifically selected. The second is that there is auniformity between the percentage ESS voltage drop on the primary andthe percentage EUS voltage drop on the secondary. With these twoassumptions, it is shown that the model is monotonic, decreasing withvoltage and with the slope of the voltage on the EEDCS. This means thatthe reduction in control voltage at the independent variable pointsalways results in a decrease in the voltage at the EUS and a resultingdecrease in the losses and if the slope of the voltage is minimized bythe capacitor bank position simultaneously, then the application oflinear optimization technique shows that the optimum will always occurat a boundary condition. This means that the first boundary conditionthat is encountered will identify the optimum operating point for the EDto minimize losses. The VCC is an implementation of a control processthat implements the search for this boundary condition to assure optimumloss operation base on voltage control.

According to a further aspect of the disclosure, the VCC combines theoptimization of the EPP and the optimization of the VCC to produce asimultaneous optimization of both the EEDS design and construction withthe VCC operating optimization, to produce a continuous improvementprocess that cycles through the overall voltage optimization for theEEDS using a Plan, Manage, and Validate process. This continuousimprovement process adapts the optimization to the continuously changingEEDS load environment completing the Voltage Optimization process.

Additional features, advantages, and embodiments of the disclosure maybe set forth or apparent from consideration of the detailed descriptionand drawings. Moreover, it is to be understood that both the foregoingsummary of the disclosure and the following detailed description areexemplary and intended to provide further explanation without limitingthe scope of the disclosure as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the disclosure, are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the disclosure andtogether with the detailed description serve to explain the principlesof the disclosure. No attempt is made to show structural details of thedisclosure in more detail than may be necessary for a fundamentalunderstanding of the disclosure and the various ways in which it may bepracticed. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows an example of an EEDS made up of an electricity generationand distribution system connected to customer loads, according toprinciples of the disclosure;

FIG. 2 shows an example of a voltage control and conservation (VCC)system combined with an energy validation process (EVP) and an energyplanning process (EPP) that is being measured at the ESS meter point andthe EUS meter point made up of Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI)measuring voltage and energy, according to the principles of thedisclosure;

FIG. 3 shows an example of how the EEDCS is represented as a linearmodel for the calculation of the delivery voltages and the energy lossesby just using a linear model with assumptions within the limitations ofthe output voltages, according to principles of the disclosure;

FIG. 4 shows an example of a EEDS structure for an electric distributionsystem with measuring points at the ESS delivery points and the EUSmetering points, showing the equipment and devices within the system andthe independent variables that can be used to accomplish theoptimization of the EEDS, according to principles of the disclosure;

FIG. 5 shows an example of the measuring system for the AMI meters usedin the VCC, according to principles of the disclosure;

FIG. 6 shows an example of the linear regression analysis relating thecontrol variables to the EUS voltages that determine the power loss,voltage level and provide the input for searching for the optimumcondition and recognizing the abnormal voltage levels from the AMIvoltage metering, according to principles of the disclosure;

FIG. 7 shows an example of the mapping of control meters to zones ofcontrol and blocks of control, according to principles of thedisclosure;

FIG. 8 shows an example of how the voltage characteristics from theindependent variables are mapped to the linear regression models of thebellwether meters, according to principles of the disclosure;

FIG. 9 shows the model used for the implementation of the optimizationsolution for the VCC, including the linearization for the EEDCS and thelinearization of the two loss calculations, according to the principlesof the disclosure;

FIG. 10 shows a representation of the approach to applying the per unitcalculation to demonstrate the representation of the relative values ofthe impedances and losses of the EEDCS during VCC operation, accordingto principles of the disclosure;

FIG. 11 shows the way the VCC displays the ESS voltage data and the EUSmonitored meter data for display to the operators;

FIG. 12 is similar to FIG. 16, except that it is a display for thecapacitor bank child control showing its bandwidth limits and theoperating voltage in the top graph and the monitored group of meters inthe lower group that also searches the boundary and the slope from theLTC transformer monitored to the capacitor bank monitored is used todetermine the optimum point in the loading to switch the capacitor bankin to minimize the slope of the line connecting the two monitoredgroups; and

FIG. 13 is a chart of the overall VCC, EVP, and EPP processes, showingoptimization of the VCC process as well as optimization of the EEDS EPPprocess and improvement of the VCC process that minimizes real timelosses in the EEDS and ED.

The present disclosure is further described in the detailed descriptionthat follows.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

The disclosure and the various features and advantageous details thereofare explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodimentsand examples that are described and/or illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings and detailed in the following description. It should be notedthat the features illustrated in the drawings are not necessarily drawnto scale, and features of one embodiment may be employed with otherembodiments as the skilled artisan would recognize, even if notexplicitly stated herein. Descriptions of well-known components andprocessing techniques may be omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscurethe embodiments of the disclosure. The examples used herein are intendedmerely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the disclosuremay be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art topractice the embodiments of the disclosure. Accordingly, the examplesand embodiments herein should not be construed as limiting the scope ofthe disclosure. Moreover, it is noted that like reference numeralsrepresent similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

A “computer”, as used in this disclosure, means any machine, device,circuit, component, or module, or any system of machines, devices,circuits, components, modules, or the like, which are capable ofmanipulating data according to one or more instructions, such as, forexample, without limitation, a processor, a microprocessor, a centralprocessing unit, a general purpose computer, a super computer, apersonal computer, a laptop computer, a palmtop computer, a notebookcomputer, a desktop computer, a workstation computer, a server, or thelike, or an array of processors, microprocessors, central processingunits, general purpose computers, super computers, personal computers,laptop computers, palmtop computers, notebook computers, desktopcomputers, workstation computers, servers, or the like.

A “server”, as used in this disclosure, means any combination ofsoftware and/or hardware, including at least one application and/or atleast one computer to perform services for connected clients as part ofa client-server architecture. The at least one server application mayinclude, but is not limited to, for example, an application program thatcan accept connections to service requests from clients by sending backresponses to the clients. The server may be configured to run the atleast one application, often under heavy workloads, unattended, forextended periods of time with minimal human direction. The server mayinclude a plurality of computers configured, with the at least oneapplication being divided among the computers depending upon theworkload. For example, under light loading, the at least one applicationcan run on a single computer. However, under heavy loading, multiplecomputers may be required to run the at least one application. Theserver, or any if its computers, may also be used as a workstation.

A “database”, as used in this disclosure, means any combination ofsoftware and/or hardware, including at least one application and/or atleast one computer. The database may include a structured collection ofrecords or data organized according to a database model, such as, forexample, but not limited to at least one of a relational model, ahierarchical model, a network model or the like. The database mayinclude a database management system application (DBMS) as is known inthe art. At least one application may include, but is not limited to,for example, an application program that can accept connections toservice requests from clients by sending back responses to the clients.The database may be configured to run the at least one application,often under heavy workloads, unattended, for extended periods of timewith minimal human direction.

A “communication link”, as used in this disclosure, means a wired and/orwireless medium that conveys data or information between at least twopoints. The wired or wireless medium may include, for example, ametallic conductor link, a radio frequency (RF) communication link, anInfrared (IR) communication link, an optical communication link, or thelike, without limitation. The RF communication link may include, forexample, WiFi, WiMAX, IEEE 802.11, DECT, 0G, 1G, 2G, 3G or 4G cellularstandards, Bluetooth, and the like.

The terms “including”, “comprising” and variations thereof, as used inthis disclosure, mean “including, but not limited to”, unless expresslyspecified otherwise.

The terms “a”, “an”, and “the”, as used in this disclosure, means “oneor more”, unless expressly specified otherwise.

Devices that are in communication with each other need not be incontinuous communication with each other, unless expressly specifiedotherwise. In addition, devices that are in communication with eachother may communicate directly or indirectly through one or moreintermediaries.

Although process steps, method steps, algorithms, or the like, may bedescribed in a sequential order, such processes, methods and algorithmsmay be configured to work in alternate orders. In other words, anysequence or order of steps that may be described does not necessarilyindicate a requirement that the steps be performed in that order. Thesteps of the processes, methods or algorithms described herein may beperformed in any order practical. Further, some steps may be performedsimultaneously.

When a single device or article is described herein, it will be readilyapparent that more than one device or article may be used in place of asingle device or article. Similarly, where more than one device orarticle is described herein, it will be readily apparent that a singledevice or article may be used in place of the more than one device orarticle. The functionality or the features of a device may bealternatively embodied by one or more other devices which are notexplicitly described as having such functionality or features.

A “computer-readable medium”, as used in this disclosure, means anymedium that participates in providing data (for example, instructions)which may be read by a computer. Such a medium may take many forms,including non-volatile media, volatile media, and transmission media.Non-volatile media may include, for example, optical or magnetic disksand other persistent memory. Volatile media may include dynamic randomaccess memory (DRAM). Transmission media may include coaxial cables,copper wire and fiber optics, including the wires that comprise a systembus coupled to the processor. Transmission media may include or conveyacoustic waves, light waves and electromagnetic emissions, such as thosegenerated during radio frequency (RF) and infrared (IR) datacommunications. Common forms of computer-readable media include, forexample, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, anyother magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, DVD, any other optical medium, punchcards, paper tape, any other physical medium with patterns of holes, aRAM, a PROM, an EPROM, a FLASH-EEPROM, any other memory chip orcartridge, a carrier wave as described hereinafter, or any other mediumfrom which a computer can read.

Various forms of computer readable media may be involved in carryingsequences of instructions to a computer. For example, sequences ofinstruction (i) may be delivered from a RAM to a processor, (ii) may becarried over a wireless transmission medium, and/or (iii) may beformatted according to numerous formats, standards or protocols,including, for example, WiFi, WiMAX, IEEE 802.11, DECT, 0G, 1G, 2G, 3Gor 4G cellular standards, Bluetooth, or the like.

According to one non-limiting example of the disclosure, a voltagecontrol and conservation (VCC) system 200 is provided (shown in FIG. 2)and the EVP 600 is used to monitor the change in EEDS energy from theVCC 200. The VCC 200, includes three subsystems, including an energydelivery (ED) system 300, an energy control (EC) system 400, an energyregulation (ER) system 500. Also shown in FIG. 2 are an energyvalidation (EVP) system 600 and an energy planning process (EPP) system1700. The VCC system 200 is configured to monitor energy usage at the EDsystem 300 and determine one or more energy delivery parameters at theEC system (or voltage controller) 400. The EC system 400 may thenprovide the one or more energy delivery parameters C_(ED) to the ERsystem 500 to adjust the energy delivered to a plurality of users foroptimal maximum energy conservation. The EVP system 600 monitors throughcommunications link 610 all metered energy flow and determines thechange in energy resulting from a change in voltage control at the ERsystem 500. The EVP system 600 also reads weather data informationthrough a communication link 620 from an appropriate weather station 640to execute the EVP process 630. The EVP system 600 is more fullydescribed in the co-pending/P006 application.

The EPP system 1700 reads the historical databases 470 via communicationlink 1740 for the AMI data. The EPP system 1700 can process thishistorical data along with measured AMI data to identify problems, ifany, on the EEDS system 700. The EPP system 1700 is also able toidentify any outlier points in the analysis caused by proposed optimalsystem modifications and to identify the initial meters to be used formonitoring by VCC system 200 until the adaptive process (discussed inthe US 2013/0030591 publication) is initiated by the control system.

The VCC system 200 is also configured to monitor via communication link610 energy change data from EVP system 600 and determine one or moreenergy delivery parameters at the EC system (or voltage controller) 400.The EC system 400 may then provide the one or more energy deliveryparameters C_(ED) to the ER system 500 to adjust the energy delivered toa plurality of users for maximum energy conservation. Similarly, the ECsystem 400 may use the energy change data to control the EEDS 700 inother ways. For example, components of the EEDS 700 may be modified,adjusted, added or deleted, including the addition of capacitor banks,modification of voltage regulators, changes to end-user equipment tomodify customer efficiency, and other control actions.

The VCC system 200 may be integrated into, for example, an existing loadcurtailment plan of an electrical power supply system. The electricalpower supply system may include an emergency voltage reduction plan,which may be activated when one or more predetermined events aretriggered. The predetermined events may include, for example, anemergency, an overheating of electrical conductors, when the electricalpower output from the transformer exceeds, for example, 80% of its powerrating, or the like. The VCC system 200 is configured to yield to theload curtailment plan when the one or more predetermined events aretriggered, allowing the load curtailment plan to be executed to reducethe voltage of the electrical power supplied to the plurality of users.

FIG. 1 is similar to FIG. 1 of US publication 2013/0030591, withoverlays that show an example of an EEDS 700 system, including an an ESSsystem 800, an EUS system 900 and an EEDCS system 1000 based on theelectricity generation and distribution system 100, according toprinciples of the disclosure. The electricity generation anddistribution system 100 includes an electrical power generating station110, a generating step-up transformer 120, a substation 130, a pluralityof step-down transformers 140, 165, 167, and users 150, 160. Theelectrical power generating station 110 generates electrical power thatis supplied to the step-up transformer 120. The step-up transformersteps-up the voltage of the electrical power and supplies the stepped-upelectrical power to an electrical transmission media 125. The ESS 800includes the station 110, the step-up transformer 120, the substation130, the step-down transformers 140, 165, 167, the ER 500 as describedherein, and the electrical transmission media, including media 125, fortransmitting the power from the station 110 to users 150, 160. The EUS900 includes the ED 300 system as described herein, and a number ofenergy usage devices (EUD) 920 that may be consumers of power, or loads,including customer equipment and the like. The EEDCS system 1000includes transmission media, including media 135, connections and anyother equipment located between the ESS 800 and the EUS 900.

As seen in FIG. 1, the electrical transmission media may include wireconductors, which may be carried above ground by, for example, utilitypoles 127, 137 and/or underground by, for example, shielded conductors(not shown). The electrical power is supplied from the step-uptransformer 120 to the substation 130 as electrical power E_(In)(t),where the electrical power E_(In) in Mega Watts (MW) may vary as afunction of time t. The substation 130 converts the received electricalpower E_(In)(t) to E_(Supply)(t) and supplies the converted electricalpower E_(Supply)(t) to the plurality of users 150, 160. The substation130 may adjustably transform the voltage component V_(In)(t) of thereceived electrical power E_(In)(t) by, for example, stepping-down thevoltage before supplying the electrical power E_(Supply)(t) to the users150, 160. The electrical power E_(Supply)(t) supplied from thesubstation 130 may be received by the step-down transformers 140, 165,167 and supplied to the users 150, 160 through a transmission medium142, 162, such as, for example, but not limited to, undergroundelectrical conductors (and/or above ground electrical conductors).

Each of the users 150, 160 may include an Advanced Meter Infrastructure(AMI) 330. The AMI 330 may be coupled to a Regional Operations Center(ROC) 180. The ROC 180 may be coupled to the AMI 330, by means of aplurality of communication links 175, 184, 188, a network 170 and/or awireless communication system 190. The wireless communication system 190may include, but is not limited to, for example, an RF transceiver, asatellite transceiver, and/or the like.

The network 170 may include, for example, at least one of the Internet,a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a metropolitanarea network (MAN), a personal area network (PAN), a campus areanetwork, a corporate area network, the electrical transmission media125, 135 and transformers 140, 165, 167, a global area network (GAN), abroadband area network (BAN), or the like, any of which may beconfigured to communicate data via a wireless and/or a wiredcommunication medium. The network 170 may be configured to include anetwork topology such as, for example, a ring, a mesh, a line, a tree, astar, a bus, a full connection, or the like

The AMI 330 may include any one or more of the following: A smart meter;a network interface (for example, a WAN interface, or the like);firmware; software; hardware; and the like. The AMI may be configured todetermine any one or more of the following: kilo-Waft-hours (kWh)delivered; kWh received; kWh delivered plus kWh received; kWh deliveredminus kWh received; interval data; demand data; voltage; current; phase;and the like. If the AMI is a three phase meter, then the low phasevoltage may be used in the average calculation, or the values for eachphase may be used independently. If the meter is a single phase meter,then the single voltage component will be averaged.

The AMI 330 may further include one or more collectors 350 (shown inFIG. 2) configured to collect AMI data from one or more AMIs 330 taskedwith, for example, measuring and reporting electric power delivery andconsumption at one or more of the users 150, 160. Alternatively (oradditionally), the one or more collectors may be located external to theusers 150, 160, such as, for example, in a housing holding the step-downtransformers 140, 165, 167. Each of the collectors may be configured tocommunicate with the ROC 180.

The VCC system 200 plugs into the DMS and AMI systems to execute thevoltage control function. In addition the EVP system 600 collectsweather data and uses the AMI data from the ESS system 800 to calculatethe energy savings level achieved by the VCC system 200. In addition theEPP system 1700 provides a process to continually improve theperformance of the EEDS by periodically reviewing the historical AMIvoltage data and providing identification of problem EUS voltageperformance and the modifications needed to increase the efficiency andreliability of the EEDS system 700, using the VCC system 200.

VCC System 200

FIG. 2 shows an example of the VCC system 200 with the EVP system 600monitoring the change in energy resulting from the VCC controlling theEEDS in the more efficient lower 5% band of voltage, according toprinciples of the disclosure. The VCC system 200 includes the ED system300, the EC system 400 and the ER system 500, each of which is shown asa broken-line ellipse. The VCC system 200 is configured to monitorenergy usage at the ED system 300. The ED system 300 monitors energyusage at one or more users 150, 160 (shown in FIG. 1) and sends energyusage information to the EC system 400. The EC system 400 processes theenergy usage information and generates one or more energy deliveryparameters C_(ED), which it sends to the ER system 500 via communicationlink 430. The ER system 500 receives the one or more energy deliveryparameters C_(ED) and adjusts the electrical power E_(Supply)(t)supplied to the users 150, 160 based on the received energy deliveryparameters C_(ED). The EVP system 600 receives the weather data and theenergy usage data and calculates the energy usage improvement from theVCC 200.

The VCC system 200 minimizes power system losses, reduces user energyconsumption and provides precise user voltage control. The VCC system200 may include a closed loop process control application that uses uservoltage data provided by the ED system 300 to control, for example, avoltage set point V_(SP) on a distribution circuit (not shown) withinthe ER system 500. That is, the VCC system 200 may control the voltagesV_(Supply)(t) of the electrical power E_(Supply)(t) supplied to theusers 150, 160, by adjusting the voltage set point V_(SP) of thedistribution circuit in the ER system 500, which may include, forexample, one or more load tap changing (LTC) transformers, one or morevoltage regulators, or other voltage controlling equipment to maintain atighter band for optimization of the operation of the voltagesV_(Delivered)(t) of the electric power E_(Delivered)(t) delivered to theusers 150, 160, to lower power losses and facilitate efficient use ofelectrical power E_(Delivered)(t) at the user locations 150 or 160.

The VCC system 200 optimally controls or adjusts the voltageV_(Supply)(t) of the electrical power E_(Supply)(t) supplied from the ECsystem 500 based on AMI data, which includes measured voltageV_(Meter)(t) data from the users 150, 160 in the ED system 300, andbased on validation data from the EVP system 600 and informationreceived from the EPP system 1700. The VCC system 200 may adjust thevoltage set point V_(SP) at the substation or line regulator level inthe ER system 500 by, for example, adjusting the LTC transformer (notshown), circuit regulators (not shown), or the like, to maintain theuser voltages V_(Meter)(t) in a target voltage band V_(Band-n), whichmay include a safe nominal operating range.

The VCC system 200 is configured to maintain the electrical powerE_(Delivered)(t) delivered to the users 150, 160 within one or morevoltage bands V_(Band-n). For example, the energy may be delivered intwo or more voltage bands V_(Band-n) substantially simultaneously, wherethe two or more voltage bands may be substantially the same ordifferent. The value V_(Band-n) may be determined by the followingexpression [1]:V _(Band-n) =V _(SP) +ΔVwhere V_(Band-n) is a range of voltages, n is a positive integer greaterthan zero corresponding to the number of voltage bands V_(Band) that maybe handled at substantially the same time, V_(SP) is the voltage setpoint value and ΔV is a voltage deviation range.

For example, the VCC system 200 may maintain the electrical powerE_(Delivered)(t) delivered to the users 150, 160 within a bandV_(Band-1) equal to, for example, 111V to 129V for rural applications,where V_(SP) is set to 120V and ΔV is set to a deviation ofseven-and-one-half percent (+/−7.5%). Similarly, the VCC system 200 maymaintain the electrical power E_(Delivered)(t) delivered to the users150, 160 within a band V_(Band-2) equal to, for example, 114V to 126Vfor urban applications, where V_(SP) is set to 120V and ΔV is set to adeviation of five (+/−5%).

The VCC system 200 may maintain the electrical power E_(Delivered)(t)delivered to the users 150, 160 at any voltage band V_(Band-n) usable bythe users 150, 160, by determining appropriate values for V_(SP) and ΔV.In this regard, the values V_(SP) and ΔV may be determined by the ECsystem 400 based on the energy usage information for users 150, 160,received from the ED system 300.

The EC system 400 may send the V_(SP) and ΔV values to the ER system 500as energy delivery parameters C_(ED), which may also include the valueV_(Band-n). The ER system 500 may then control and maintain the voltageV_(Delivered)(t) of the electrical power E_(Delivered)(t) delivered tothe users 150, 160, within the voltage band V_(Band-n). The energydelivery parameters C_(ED) may further include, for example,load-tap-changer (LTC) control commands.

The EVP system 600 may further measure and validate energy savings bycomparing energy usage by the users 150, 160 before a change in thevoltage set point value V_(SP) (or voltage band V_(Band-n)) to theenergy usage by the users 150, 160 after a change in the voltage setpoint value V_(SP) (or voltage band V_(Band-n)), according to principlesof the disclosure. These measurements and validations may be used todetermine the effect in overall energy savings by, for example, loweringthe voltage V_(Delivered)(t) of the electrical power E_(Delivered)(t)delivered to the users 150, 160, and to determine optimal deliveryvoltage bands V_(Band-n) for the energy power E_(Delivered)(t) deliveredto the users 150, 160.

The ER system 500 may communicate with the ED system 300 and/or ECsystem 400 by means of the network 170. The ER system 500 is coupled tothe network 170 and the EC system 400 by means of communication links510 and 430, respectively. The EC system 500 is also coupled to the EDsystem 300 by means of the power lines 340, which may includecommunication links.

The ER system 500 includes a substation 530 which receives theelectrical power supply E_(In)(t) from, for example, the powergenerating station 110 (shown in FIG. 1) on a line 520. The electricalpower E_(In)(t) includes a voltage V_(In)(t) component and a currentI_(In)(t) component. The substation 530 adjustably transforms thereceived electrical power E_(In)(t) to, for example, reduce (orstep-down) the voltage component V_(In)(t) of the electrical powerE_(in)(t) to a voltage value V_(Supply)(t) of the electrical powerE_(Supply)(t) supplied to the plurality of AMIs 330 on the power supplylines 340.

The substation 530 may include a transformer (not shown), such as, forexample, a load tap change (LTC) transformer. In this regard, thesubstation 530 may further include an automatic tap changer mechanism(not shown), which is configured to automatically change the taps on theLTC transformer. The tap changer mechanism may change the taps on theLTC transformer either on-load (on-load tap changer, or OLTC) oroff-load, or both. The tap changer mechanism may be motor driven andcomputer controlled. The substation 530 may also include a buck/boosttransformer to adjust and maximize the power factor of the electricalpower E_(Delivered)(t) supplied to the users on power supply lines 340.

Additionally (or alternatively), the substation 530 may include one ormore voltage regulators, or other voltage controlling equipment, asknown by those having ordinary skill in the art, that may be controlledto maintain the output the voltage component V_(Supply)(t) of theelectrical power E_(Supply)(t) at a predetermined voltage value orwithin a predetermined range of voltage values.

The substation 530 receives the energy delivery parameters C_(ED) fromthe EC system 400 on the communication link 430. The energy deliveryparameters C_(ED) may include, for example, load tap coefficients whenan LTC transformer is used to step-down the input voltage componentV_(In)(t) of the electrical power E_(In)(t) to the voltage componentV_(Supply)(t) of the electrical power E_(Supply)(t) supplied to the EDsystem 300. In this regard, the load tap coefficients may be used by theER system 500 to keep the voltage component V_(Supply)(t) on thelow-voltage side of the LTC transformer at a predetermined voltage valueor within a predetermined range of voltage values.

The LTC transformer may include, for example, seventeen or more steps(thirty-five or more available positions), each of which may be selectedbased on the received load tap coefficients. Each change in step mayadjust the voltage component V_(Supply)(t) on the low voltage side ofthe LTC transformer by as little as, for example, about five-sixteenths(0.3%), or less.

Alternatively, the LTC transformer may include fewer than seventeensteps. Similarly, each change in step of the LTC transformer may adjustthe voltage component V_(Supply)(t) on the low voltage side of the LTCtransformer by more than, for example, about five-sixteenths (0.3%).

The voltage component V_(Supply)(t) may be measured and monitored on thelow voltage side of the LTC transformer by, for example, sampling orcontinuously measuring the voltage component V_(Supply)(t) of thestepped-down electrical power E_(Supply)(t) and storing the measuredvoltage component V_(Supply)(t) values as a function of time t in astorage (not shown), such as, for example, a computer readable medium.The voltage component V_(Supply)(t) may be monitored on, for example, asubstation distribution bus, or the like. Further, the voltage componentV_(Supply)(t) may be measured at any point where measurements could bemade for the transmission or distribution systems in the ER system 500.

Similarly, the voltage component V_(In)(t) of the electrical powerE_(In)(t) input to the high voltage side of the LTC transformer may bemeasured and monitored. Further, the current component I_(Supply)(t) ofthe stepped-down electrical power E_(Supply)(t) and the currentcomponent I_(In)(t) of the electrical power E_(In)(t) may also bemeasured and monitored. In this regard, a phase difference φ_(In)(t)between the voltage V_(In)(t) and current I_(In)(t) components of theelectrical power E_(In)(t) may be determined and monitored. Similarly, aphase difference φ_(Supply)(t) between the voltage V_(Supply)(t) andcurrent I_(Supply)(t) components of the electrical energy supplyE_(Supply)(t) may be determined and monitored.

The ER system 500 may provide electrical energy supply statusinformation to the EC system 400 on the communication links 430 or 510.The electrical energy supply information may include the monitoredvoltage component V_(Supply)(t). The electrical energy supplyinformation may further include the voltage component V_(In)(t), currentcomponents I_(in)(t), I_(Supply)(t), and/or phase difference valuesφ_(In)(t), φ_(Supply)(t), as a function of time t. The electrical energysupply status information may also include, for example, the load ratingof the LTC transformer.

The electrical energy supply status information may be provided to theEC system 400 at periodic intervals of time, such as, for example, everysecond, 5 sec., 10 sec., 30 sec., 60 sec., 120 sec., 600 sec., or anyother value within the scope and spirit of the disclosure, as determinedby one having ordinary skill in the art. The periodic intervals of timemay be set by the EC system 400 or the ER system 500. Alternatively, theelectrical energy supply status information may be provided to the ECsystem 400 or ER system 500 intermittently.

Further, the electrical energy supply status information may beforwarded to the EC system 400 in response to a request by the EC system400, or when a predetermined event is detected. The predetermined eventmay include, for example, when the voltage component V_(Supply)(t)changes by an amount greater (or less) than a defined threshold valueV_(SupplyThreshold) (for example, 130V) over a predetermined interval oftime, a temperature of one or more components in the ER system 500exceeds a defined temperature threshold, or the like.

ED System 300

The ED system 300 includes a plurality of AMIs 330. The ED system 300may further include at least one collector 350, which is optional. TheED system 300 may be coupled to the network 170 by means of acommunication link 310. The collector 350 may be coupled to theplurality of AMIs 330 by means of a communication link 320. The AMIs 330may be coupled to the ER system 500 by means of one or more power supplylines 340, which may also include communication links.

Each AMI 330 is configured to measure, store and report energy usagedata by the associated users 150, 160 (shown in FIG. 1). Each AMI 330 isfurther configured to measure and determine energy usage at the users150, 160, including the voltage component V_(Meter)(t) and currentcomponent I_(Meter)(t) of the electrical power E_(Meter)(t) used by theusers 150, 160, as a function of time. The AMIs 330 may measure thevoltage component V_(Meter)(t) and current component I_(Meter)(t) of theelectrical power E_(Meter)(t) at discrete times t_(S), where s is asampling period, such as, for example, s=5 sec., 10 sec., 30 sec., 60sec., 300 sec., 600 sec., or more. For example, the AMIs 330 may measureenergy usage every, for example, minute (t_(60 sec)), five minutes(t_(300 sec)), ten minutes (t_(600 sec)), or more, or at time intervalsvariably set by the AMI 330 (for example, using a random numbergenerator).

The AMIs 330 may average the measured voltage V_(Meter)(t) and/orI_(Meter)(t) values over predetermined time intervals (for example, 5min., 10 min, 30 min., or more). The AMIs 330 may store the measuredelectrical power usage E_(Meter)(t), including the measured voltagecomponent V_(Meter)(t) and/or current component I_(Meter)(t) as AMI datain a local (or remote) storage (not shown), such as, for example, acomputer readable medium.

Each AMI 330 is also capable of operating in a “report-by-exception”mode for any voltage V_(Meter)(t), current I_(Meter)(t), or energy usageE_(Meter)(t) that falls outside of a target component band. The targetcomponent band may include, a target voltage band, a target currentband, or a target energy usage band. In the “report-by-exception” mode,the AMI 330 may sua sponte initiate communication and send AMI data tothe EC system 400. The “report-by-exception” mode may be used toreconfigure the AMIs 330 used to represent, for example, the lowestvoltages on the circuit as required by changing system conditions.

The AMI data may be periodically provided to the collector 350 by meansof the communication links 320. Additionally, the AMIs 330 may providethe AMI data in response to a AMI data request signal received from thecollector 350 on the communication links 320.

Alternatively (or additionally), the AMI data may be periodicallyprovided directly to the EC system 400 (for example, the MAS 460) fromthe plurality of AMIs, by means of, for example, communication links320, 410 and network 170. In this regard, the collector 350 may bebypassed, or eliminated from the ED system 300. Furthermore, the AMIs330 may provide the AMI data directly to the EC system 400 in responseto a AMI data request signal received from the EC system 400. In theabsence of the collector 350, the EC system (for example, the MAS 460)may carry out the functionality of the collector 350 described herein.

The request signal may include, for example, a query (or read) signaland a AMI identification signal that identifies the particular AMI 330from which AMI data is sought. The AMI data may include the followinginformation for each AMI 330, including, for example, kilo-Watt-hours(kWh) delivered data, kWh received data, kWh delivered plus kWh receiveddata, kWh delivered minus kWh received data, voltage level data, currentlevel data, phase angle between voltage and current, kVar data, timeinterval data, demand data, and the like.

Additionally, the AMIs 330 may send the AMI data to the meter automationsystem server MAS 460. The AMI data may be sent to the MAS 460periodically according to a predetermined schedule or upon request fromthe MAS 460.

The collector 350 is configured to receive the AMI data from each of theplurality of AMIs 330 via the communication links 320. The collector 350stores the received AMI data in a local storage (not shown), such as,for example, a computer readable medium (e.g., a non-transitory computerreadable medium). The collector 350 compiles the received AMI data intoa collector data. In this regard, the received AMI data may beaggregated into the collector data based on, for example, a geographiczone in which the AMIs 330 are located, a particular time band (orrange) during which the AMI data was collected, a subset of AMIs 330identified in a collector control signal, and the like. In compiling thereceived AMI data, the collector 350 may average the voltage componentV_(Meter)(t) values received in the AMI data from all (or a subset ofall) of the AMIs 330.

The EC system 400 is able to select or alter a subset of all of the AMIs330 to be monitored for predetermined time intervals, which may includefor example 15 minute intervals. It is noted that the predetermined timeintervals may be shorter or longer than 15 minutes. The subset of all ofthe AMIs 330 is selectable and can be altered by the EC system 400 asneeded to maintain minimum level control of the voltage V_(Supply)(t)supplied to the AMIs 330.

The collector 350 may also average the electrical power E_(Meter)(t)values received in the AMI data from all (or a subset of all) of theAMIs 330. The compiled collector data may be provided by the collector350 to the EC system 400 by means of the communication link 310 andnetwork 170. For example, the collector 350 may send the compiledcollector data to the MAS 460 (or ROC 490) in the EC system 400.

The collector 350 is configured to receive collector control signalsover the network 170 and communication link 310 from the EC system 400.Based on the received collector control signals, the collector 350 isfurther configured to select particular ones of the plurality of AMIs330 and query the meters for AMI data by sending a AMI data requestsignal to the selected AMIs 330. The collector 350 may then collect theAMI data that it receives from the selected AMIs 330 in response to thequeries. The selectable AMIs 330 may include any one or more of theplurality of AMIs 330. The collector control signals may include, forexample, an identification of the AMIs 330 to be queried (or read),time(s) at which the identified AMIs 330 are to measure theV_(Meter)(t), I_(Meter)(t), E_(Meter)(t) and/or φ_(Meter)(t)(φ_(Meter)(t) is the phase difference between the voltage V_(Meter)(t)and current I_(Meter)(t) components of the electrical power E_(Meter)(t)measured at the identified AMI 330), energy usage information since thelast reading from the identified AMI 330, and the like. The collector350 may then compile and send the compiled collector data to the MAS 460(and/or ROC 490) in the EC system 400.

EC System 400

The EC system 400 may communicate with the ED system 300 and/or ERsystem 500 by means of the network 170. The EC system 400 is coupled tothe network 170 by means of one or more communication links 410. The ECsystem 400 may also communicate directly with the ER system 500 by meansof a communication link 430.

The EC system 400 includes the MAS 460, a database (DB) 470, adistribution management system (DMS) 480, and a regional operationcenter (ROC) 490. The ROC 490 may include a computer (ROC computer) 495,a server (not shown) and a database (not shown). The MAS 460 may becoupled to the DB 470 and DMS 480 by means of communication links 420and 440, respectively. The DMS 480 may be coupled to the ROC 490 and ERsystem 500 by means of the communication link 430. The database 470 maybe located at the same location as (for example, proximate to, orwithin) the MAS 460, or at a remote location that may be accessible via,for example, the network 170.

The EC system 400 is configured to de-select, from the subset ofmonitored AMIs 330, a AMI 330 that the EC system 400 previously selectedto monitor, and select the AMI 330 that is outside of the subset ofmonitored AMIs 330, but which is operating in the report-by-exceptionmode. The EC system 400 may carry out this change after receiving thesua sponte AMI data from the non-selected AMI 330. In this regard, theEC system 400 may remove or terminate a connection to the de-selectedAMI 330 and create a new connection to the newly selected AMI 330operating in the report-by-exception mode. The EC system 400 is furtherconfigured to select any one or more of the plurality of AMIs 330 fromwhich it receives AMI data comprising, for example, the lowest measuredvoltage component V_(Meter)(t), and generate an energy deliveryparameter C_(ED) based on the AMI data received from the AMI(s) 330 thatprovide the lowest measured voltage component V_(Meter)(t).

The MAS 460 may include a computer (not shown) that is configured toreceive the collector data from the collector 350, which includes AMIdata collected from a selected subset (or all) of the AMIs 330. The MAS460 is further configured to retrieve and forward AMI data to the ROC490 in response to queries received from the ROC 490. The MAS 460 maystore the collector data, including AMI data in a local storage and/orin the DB 470.

The DMS 480 may include a computer that is configured to receive theelectrical energy supply status information from the substation 530. TheDMS 480 is further configured to retrieve and forward measured voltagecomponent V_(Meter)(t) values and electrical power E_(Meter)(t) valuesin response to queries received from the ROC 490. The DMS 480 may befurther configured to retrieve and forward measured current componentI_(Meter)(t) values in response to queries received from the ROC 490.The DMS 480 also may be further configured to retrieve all“report-by-exception” voltages V_(Meter)(t) from the AMIs 330 operatingin the “report-by-exception” mode and designate the voltagesV_(Meter)(t) as one of the control points to be continuously read atpredetermined times (for example, every 15 minutes, or less (or more),or at varying times). The “report-by-exception voltages V_(Meter)(t) maybe used to control the EC 500 set points.

The DB 470 may include a plurality of relational databases (not shown).The DB 470 includes a large number of records that include historicaldata for each AMI 330, each collector 350, each substation 530, and thegeographic area(s) (including latitude, longitude, and altitude) wherethe AMIs 330, collectors 350, and substations 530 are located.

For instance, the DB 470 may include any one or more of the followinginformation for each AMI 330, including: a geographic location(including latitude, longitude, and altitude); a AMI identificationnumber; an account number; an account name; a billing address; atelephone number; a AMI type, including model and serial number; a datewhen the AMI was first placed into use; a time stamp of when the AMI waslast read (or queried); the AMI data received at the time of the lastreading; a schedule of when the AMI is to be read (or queried),including the types of information that are to be read; and the like.

The historical AMI data may include, for example, the electrical powerE_(Meter)(t) used by the particular AMI 330, as a function of time. Timet may be measured in, for example, discrete intervals at which theelectrical power E_(Meter) magnitude (kWh) of the received electricalpower E_(Meter)(t) is measured or determined at the AMI 330. Thehistorical AMI data includes a measured voltage component V_(Meter)(t)of the electrical energy E_(Meter)(t) received at the AMI 330. Thehistorical AMI data may further include a measured current componentI_(Meter)(t) and/or phase difference φ_(Meter)(t) of the electricalpower E_(Meter)(t) received at the AMI 330.

As noted earlier, the voltage component V_(Meter)(t) may be measured ata sampling period of, for example, every five seconds, ten seconds,thirty seconds, one minute, five minutes, ten minutes, fifteen minutes,or the like. The current component I_(Meter)(t) and/or the receivedelectrical power E_(Meter)(t) values may also be measured atsubstantially the same times as the voltage component V_(Meter)(t).

Given the low cost of memory, the DB 470 may include historical datafrom the very beginning of when the AMI data was first collected fromthe AMIs 330 through to the most recent AMI data received from the AMIs330.

The DB 470 may include a time value associated with each measuredvoltage component V_(Meter)(t), current component I_(Meter)(t), phasecomponent φ_(Meter)(t) and/or electrical power E_(Meter)(t), which mayinclude a timestamp value generated at the AMI 330. The timestamp valuemay include, for example, a year, a month, a day, an hour, a minute, asecond, and a fraction of a second. Alternatively, the timestamp may bea coded value which may be decoded to determine a year, a month, a day,an hour, a minute, a second, and a fraction of a second, using, forexample, a look up table. The ROC 490 and/or AMIs 330 may be configuredto receive, for example, a WWVB atomic clock signal transmitted by theU.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), or the likeand synchronize its internal clock (not shown) to the WWVB atomic clocksignal.

The historical data in the DB 470 may further include historicalcollector data associated with each collector 350. The historicalcollector data may include any one or more of the following information,including, for example: the particular AMIs 330 associated with eachcollector 350; the geographic location (including latitude, longitude,and altitude) of each collector 350; a collector type, including modeland serial number; a date when the collector 350 was first placed intouse; a time stamp of when collector data was last received from thecollector 350; the collector data that was received; a schedule of whenthe collector 350 is expected to send collector data, including thetypes of information that are to be sent; and the like.

The historical collector data may further include, for example, anexternal temperature value T_(Collector)(t) measured outside of eachcollector 350 at time t. The historical collector data may furtherinclude, for example, any one or more of the following for eachcollector 350: an atmospheric pressure value P_(Collector)(t) measuredproximate the collector 350 at time t; a humidity value H_(Collector)(t)measured proximate the collector 350 at time t; a wind vector valueW_(Collector)(t) measured proximate the collector 350 at time t,including direction and magnitude of the measured wind; a solarirradiant value L_(Collector)(t) (kW/m²) measured proximate thecollector 350 at time t; and the like.

The historical data in the DB 470 may further include historicalsubstation data associated with each substation 530. The historicalsubstation data may include any one or more of the followinginformation, including, for example: the identifications of theparticular AMIs 330 supplied with electrical energy E_(Supply)(t) by thesubstation 530; the geographic location (including latitude, longitude,and altitude) of the substation 530; the number of distributioncircuits; the number of transformers; a transformer type of eachtransformer, including model, serial number and maximum Megavolt Ampere(MVA) rating; the number of voltage regulators; a voltage regulator typeof each voltage regulator, including model and serial number; a timestamp of when substation data was last received from the substation 530;the substation data that was received; a schedule of when the substation530 is expected to provide electrical energy supply status information,including the types of information that are to be provided; and thelike.

The historical substation data may include, for example, the electricalpower E_(Supply)(t) supplied to each particular AMI 330, whereE_(Supply)(t) is measured or determined at the output of the substation530. The historical substation data includes a measured voltagecomponent V_(Supply)(t) of the supplied electrical power E_(Supply)(t),which may be measured, for example, on the distribution bus (not shown)from the transformer. The historical substation data may further includea measured current component I_(Supply)(t) of the supplied electricalpower E_(Supply)(t). As noted earlier, the voltage componentV_(Supply)(t), the current component I_(Supply)(t), and/or theelectrical power E_(Supply)(t) may be measured at a sampling period of,for example, every five seconds, ten seconds, thirty seconds, a minute,five minutes, ten minutes, or the like. The historical substation datamay further include a phase difference value φ_(Supply)(t) between thevoltage V_(Supply)(t) and current I_(Supply)(t) signals of theelectrical power E_(Supply)(t), which may be used to determine the powerfactor of the electrical power E_(Supply)(t) supplied to the AMIs 330.

The historical substation data may further include, for example, theelectrical power E_(In)(t) received on the line 520 at the input of thesubstation 530, where the electrical power E_(In)(t) is measured ordetermined at the input of the substation 530. The historical substationdata may include a measured voltage component V_(In)(t) of the receivedelectrical power E_(In)(t), which may be measured, for example, at theinput of the transformer. The historical substation data may furtherinclude a measured current component I_(In) of the received electricalpower E_(In)(t). As noted earlier, the voltage component V_(In)(t), thecurrent component I_(In)(t), and/or the electrical power E_(In)(t) maybe measured at a sampling period of, for example, every five seconds,ten seconds, thirty seconds, a minute, five minutes, ten minutes, or thelike. The historical substation data may further include a phasedifference φ_(In)(t) between the voltage component V_(In)(t) and currentcomponent I_(In)(t) of the electrical power E_(In)(t). The power factorof the electrical power E_(In)(t) may be determined based on the phasedifference φ_(In)(t).

According to an aspect of the disclosure, the EC system 400 may saveaggregated kW data at the substation level, voltage data at thesubstation level, and weather data to compare to energy usage per AMI330 to determine the energy savings from the VCC system 200, and usinglinear regression to remove the effects of weather, load growth,economic effects, and the like, from the calculation.

In the VCC system 200, control may be initiated from, for example, theROC computer 495. In this regard, a control screen 305 may be displayedon the ROC computer 495, as shown, for example, in FIG. 3 of the US2013/0030591 publication. The control screen 305 may correspond to datafor a particular substation 530 (for example, the TRABUE SUBSTATION) inthe ER system 500. The ROC computer 495 can control and override (ifnecessary), for example, the substation 530 load tap changingtransformer based on, for example, the AMI data received from the EDsystem 300 for the users 150, 160. The ED system 300 may determine thevoltages of the electrical power supplied to the user locations 150,160, at predetermined (or variable) intervals, such as, e.g., on averageeach 15 minutes, while maintaining the voltages within required voltagelimits.

For system security, the substation 530 may be controlled through thedirect communication link 430 from the ROC 490 and/or DMS 480, includingtransmission of data through communication link 430 to and from the ER500, EUS 300 and EVP 600.

Furthermore, an operator can initiate a voltage control program on theROC computer 490, overriding the controls, if necessary, and monitoringa time it takes to read the user voltages V_(Meter)(t) being used forcontrol of, for example, the substation LTC transformer (not shown) inthe ER system 500.

EVP System 600

FIG. 2 of the co-pending/P006 application shows the energy validationprocess 600 for determining the amount of conservation in energy percustomer realized by operating the VCC system in FIGS. 1-2 of thepresent application. The process is started 601 and the data the ON andOFF periods is loaded 602 by the process manager. The next step is tocollect 603 the hourly voltage and power (MW) data from the meteringdata points on the VCC system from the DMS 480 which may be part of asupervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) type of industrialcontrol system. Next the corresponding weather data is collected 604 forthe same hourly conditions. The data is processed 605, 606, 607, 608 toimprove its quality using filters and analysis techniques to eliminateoutliers that could incorrectly affect the results, as describe furtherbelow. If hourly pairing is to be done the hourly groups are determined609 using the linear regression techniques. The next major step is todetermine 611, 612, 613, 614, 615, 616, 617 the optimal pairing of thesamples, as described further below

EPP System 1700

FIG. 2 of the present application also shows an example of the EPPsystem 1700 applied to a distribution circuit, that also may include theVCC system 200 and the EVP system 600, as discussed previously. The EPPsystem 1700 collects the historic energy and voltage data from the AMIsystem from database 470 and/or the distribution management systems(DMS) 480 and combines this with the CVR factor analysis from the EVPsystem 600 (discussed in detail in the co-pending/P006 application) toproduce an optimized robust planning process for correcting problems andimproving the capability of the VCC system 200 to increase the energyefficiency and demand reduction applications.

FIG. 3 shows an example of how the EEDCS 1000 is represented as a linearmodel for the calculation of the delivery voltages and the energy lossesby just using a linear model with assumptions within the limitations ofthe output voltages. This model enables a robust model that canimplement an optimization process and is more accommodating to asecondary voltage measuring system (e.g., AMI-based measurements). Thetwo linear approximations for the power losses associated with thevoltage drops from the ESS 800 to the EUS 900 are shown and make up themathematical model for the performance criterion over limited modelrange of the voltage constraints of the EUS AMI voltages. The energylosses in the EEDCS 1000 can be linearized based on the voltage dropfrom the ESS 800 to the EUS 900, as represented by the equation:V_(S)−V_(AMI)=B_(EEDCS)×P_(LossEEDCS), where V_(S) is the ESS voltage,V_(AMI) is the EUS voltage (as measured by AMI 330), B_(EEDCS)represents the slope of the linear regression, and P_(LossEEDCS)represents the loss energy losses in the EEDCS 1000. Similarly, theenergy loss in an EUS 900 (e.g., the difference in energy between whenthe load is in the ON and OFF states) can be linearized based on thevoltage difference between a measurement in the load-ON state and ameasurement in the load-OFF state, as represented by the equation:V_(AMIon)−V_(AMIoff)=B_(EUS)×P_(LossEUS), where V_(AMIon) is the EUSvoltage in the ON state, V_(AMIoff) is the EUS voltage in the OFF state,B_(EUS) represents the slope of the linear regression, and P_(LossEUS)represents the difference in energy between the load-ON and load-OFFstates. The relative loss amounts between the primary and secondaryEEDCS (P_(LossEEDCS)) to the CVR factor-based losses of the EUS to ED(P_(LossEUS)) are less than 5% and more than 95%. This near order ofmagnitude difference allows more assumptions to be used in deriving thesmaller magnitude of the EEDCS losses and the more accurate model forcalculating the larger CVR factor losses of the EUS to ED.

FIG. 4 shows an example of an EEDS control structure for an electricdistribution system with measuring points at the ESS delivery points andthe EUS metering points. The control points are the independentvariables in the optimization model that will be used to determine theoptimum solution to the minimization of the power losses in the EEDS700. The blocks at the top of the FIG. 4 illustrate the components ofthe various systems of the EEDS. 700, e.g., ESS 800, EEDCS 1000, EUS 900and ED system 300, where the controls or independent variables arelocated. Below each box include examples of the independent variablesthat can be used to accomplish the optimization of the EEDS 700. Forexample, the independent variables to be used in the optimization mayinclude the LTC transformer output voltages, the regulator outputvoltages, the position of the capacitor banks, the voltage level of thedistributed generation, customer voltage control devices, the invertersfor electrical vehicle charging, direct load control devices that affectvoltage. The AMI meters 330 are placed at points where the independentvariables and the output voltages to the EUS 900 can be measured by theVCC 200.

FIG. 5 shows an example of the measuring system for the AMI meters 330used in the VCC 200. The key characteristic is that the meters 330sample the constantly changing levels of voltage at the EUS 900 deliverypoints and produce the data points that can be compared to the linearmodel of the load characteristics. This process is used to provide the5-15 minute sampling that provides the basis to search the boundaryconditions of the EEDS 700 to locate the optimum point (discussed inmore detail below with reference to FIGS. 9-13). The independentvariables are measured to determine the inputs to the linear model forproducing an expected state of the output voltages to the EUS 900 foruse in modeling the optimization and determining the solution to theoptimization problem.

FIG. 6 shows an example of the linear regression analysis relating thecontrol variables to the EUS voltages that determine the power loss,voltage level and provide the input for searching for the optimumcondition and recognizing the abnormal voltage levels from the AMIvoltage metering. The specifics of this linear regression analysis arediscussed in more detail in are described in patent application No.61/794,623, entitled ELECTRIC POWER SYSTEM CONTROL WITH PLANNING OFENERGY DEMAND AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY USING AMI-BASED DATA ANALYSIS, filedon Mar. 15, 2013 (“the co-pending/P008 application”), the entirety ofwhich is incorporated herein

FIG. 7 shows an example of the mapping of control meters to zones ofcontrol and blocks of control. Each “zone” refers to all AMIs 330downstream of a regulator and upstream of the next regulator (e.g., LTC,regulator) and each “block” refers to areas within the sphere ofinfluence of features of the distribution system (e.g., a specificcapacitor). In the example shown in FIG. 7, the LTC Zone includes allAMIs 330 downstream of the LTC and upstream of regulator 1402 (e.g., theAMIs 330 in B1 and B2), the Regulator Zone includes all AMIs 330downstream of regulator 1402 (e.g., the AMIs 300 in B3), and Block 2(B2) includes all AMIs 330 within the influence (upstream or downstream)of capacitor 1403. Each block includes a specific set of meters 330 formonitoring. The particular meters 330 that are monitored may bedetermined by the adaptive process within the VCC 200 (as described inUS publication 2013/0030591) with respective AMI meter populations.

FIG. 8 shows an example of how the voltage characteristics from theindependent variables are mapped to the linear regression models of themonitored meters 330. The primary loadflow model is used to determinehow the general characteristics of the LTC transformer, regulator,capacitor bank, distributed generation and other voltage controlindependent variables affect the linear regression model. This change isinitiated and used to determine the decision point for operating theindependent variable so that the optimization process can be implementedto determine the new limiting point from the boundary conditions. Themodel uses the conversion of the electrical model to a per unitcalculation that is then converted to a set of models with nominalvoltages of 120 volts. This is then used to translate to the VCC processfor implementing the linear regression models for both the ESS to EUSvoltage control and the calculation of the EEDS losses. The modelingprocess is described in further detail with respect to FIG. 6 of theco-pending/P008 application.

Tables 1-4 and FIG. 9 show the implementation of the optimizationcontrol for the VCC 200. Table 1 shows the definition of the boundaryconditions for defining the optimization problem and solution processfor the VCC 200. Table 1 also describes the boundaries where the modeldoes not apply, for example, the model does not represent the loading ofthe equipment within the EEDS 700. This modeling is done, instead bymore detailed loadflow models for the primary system of the EEDS 700 andis accomplished in the more traditional distribution management systems(DMS) not covered by this disclosure. The present voltage controlprocess is a voltage loss control process that can be plugged into theDMS 480 controls using the VCC 200 process described in FIG. 2.

TABLE 1 The Voltage Optimization Problem Problem Boundaries: EEDS SystemSpecifically the boundary is around control of two characteristics Powerflow from the ESS to the EUS Power flow from the EUS to the EDS with CVRThe control of the secondary or EUS delivery voltages The loading of theequipment is outside of the problem boundaries

Table 2 shows the performance criterion (e.g., the values to beoptimized) and the independent variables (e.g., the values that arevaried to gain the optimized solution) of the optimization problem forthe VCC 200. The performance criterion are represented by the linearloss models for the EEDCS primary and secondary as well as the CVRfactor linear model of the EUS to ED. The use of these linear models inthe optimization allows a simple method of calculating the losses withinthe constraints of the EUS voltages. It also takes advantage of theorder of magnitude difference between the two types of losses (asdescribed above with respect to FIG. 3) to make a practical calculationof the performance criterion for the optimization problem.

TABLE 2 The Voltage Optimization Problem The Performance Criterion: EEDSSystem Losses    Power flow losses from the ESS to the EUS    Power flowfrom the EUS to the EDS from CVR    The losses in the EDS beyond CVRfrom loading of the equipment    is not included The IndependentVariables:    LTC Control Voltage setpoints    Capacitor Bank Voltageand/or Var setpoints    Line Regulator Voltage setpoints    EUS VoltageControl    EDS level Voltage Control

FIG. 9 shows the summary model used for the implementation of theoptimization solution for the VCC including the linearization for theEEDCS and the linearization of the two loss calculations as well as thelinearization model 1750 of the control variables to the output EUSvoltages in the bellwether group as well as the general EUS voltagepopulation. These models allow a direct solution to the optimization tobe made using linear optimization theory.

Table 3 shows the operational constraints of the EUS voltages and thespecific assumptions and calculations needed to complete the derivationof the optimization solution that determines the process used by the VCC200 to implement the optimization search for the optimum point on theboundary conditions determined by the constraints by the EUS voltages.The assumptions are critical to understanding the novel implementationof the VCC control 200 process. The per unit calculation processdevelops the model basis where the primary and secondary models of theEEDCS 1000 can be derived and translated to a linear process for thedetermination of the control solution and give the VCC 200 its abilityto output voltages at one normalized level for clear comparison of thesystem state during the optimization solution. The assumption of uniformblock loading is critical to derive the constant decreasing nature ofthe voltage control independent variables and the slope variable fromthe capacitor bank switching. Putting these assumptions together allowsthe solution to the optimization problem to be determined. The solutionis a routine that searches the boundary conditions of the optimization,specifically the constraint levels for the EUS to ED voltages to locatethe boundary solution to the linear optimization per linear optimizationtheory.

TABLE 3 The Voltage Optimization Problem The System Model    Subject toconstraints:       V_(AMI) <+5% of Nominal       V_(AMI) <−5% of NominalThe Optimum is at a System Model Boundary    The Per Unit Calculation   Uniform Load Assumption    Calculation of EEDCS Losses and EUS to EDSlosses    Decreasing Loss with Decreasing Control Variable    DecreasingLoss with Decreasing Voltage Slope    The Boundary Search Algorithm

Table 4 shows the general form of the solution to the optimizationproblem with the assumptions made in Table 3. The results show that theVCC 200 process must search the boundary conditions to find the lowestvoltages in each block and used the minimization of the slope of theaverage block voltages to search the level of independent variables tofind the optimal point of voltage operation where the block voltages andblock voltage slopes are minimized locating the solution to theoptimization problem where the EEDCS 1000 and the EUS 900 to ED 300losses are minimized satisfying the minimization of the performancecriterion by linear optimization theory.

TABLE 4 Controlling Voltage Optimization The Optimization Specification   Performance Criterion: Minimize Loss EEDCS and CVR factor    EUS toEDS The EEDS Model Equations: Linear Voltage Relationships    Vs − Vami= A + BIami        I is ESS current levels        Vs is the ESS sourcevoltages        Vami is the EUS to EDS output voltages        A and Bare linear regression constants Constraints: −5% < Vami < +5%    TheBoundary Condition solution    Voltage Centered in combined regressionbands    Slope Minimization

Table 5 is similar to Table 4, with an added practical solution step tothe VCC optimization of using the process of boundary searching tooutput the setpoint change to the independent control variables with abandwidth that matches the optimization solution, allowing the controlto precisely move the EEDS 700 to the optimum point of operation. Thisalso allows the VCC process 200 to have a local failsafe process in casethe centralized control loses its connection to the local devices. Ifthis occurs the local setpoint stays on the last setpoint and minimizesthe failure affect until the control path can be re-established.

TABLE 5 Controlling Voltage Optimization The Optimization Specification   Performance Criterion: Minimize Loss EEDCS and CVR factor    EUS toEDS The EEDS Model Equations: Linear Voltage Relationships    Vs − Vami= A + BIami        I is ESS current levels        Vs is the ESS sourcevoltages        Vami is the EUS to EDS output voltages        A and Bare linear regression constants Constraints: −5% < Vami < +5%    TheBoundary Condition solution    Voltage Centered in combined regressionbands    Slope Minimization Setpoint control with bandwidths

FIG. 10, which is similar to FIG. 8, shows a representation of theapproach to applying the per unit calculation to demonstrate therepresentation of the relative values of the impedances and losses ofthe EEDCS 1000 during VCC 200 operation. This model also shows that theper unit values can be used to build a model at the primary andsecondary side that can translate the EEDS 700 and EUS 900 voltages to acommon 120 volt base for comparison. This method is the method that theVCC 200 uses to display information on voltage to the operators using afamiliar looking interface (e.g., the interface is made to look similarto what the operator is accommodated to seeing with the older standardLTC transformer and regulator in a DMS frame of reference, see e.g.,FIG. 11). This has a practical benefit of making the transition to usingthe VCC 200 an easy transition for the operators because it reacts in avery intuitive way similar to the older type of controls.

FIG. 11 shows the way the VCC 200 displays the ESS voltage data and theEUS monitored meter data on the common 120 nominal voltage levels fordisplay to the operators. The average value of the lowest meterstracking the block lowest voltages is displayed in the lower graph. Thisis the block method of searching for the optimum condition by trackingthe low voltage boundary conditions directly at the block voltagelimits. Between the two graphs it is simple and intuitive to determinethe expected operation of the VCC 200.

FIG. 12 is the same diagram as FIG. 11 except that it is for thecapacitor bank child control showing its bandwidth limits and theoperating voltage in the top graph and the monitored group of meters inthe lower graph, that also searches the boundary and the slope from theLTC transformer monitored meter to the capacitor bank monitored meter isused to determine the optimum point in the loading at which to switch inthe capacitor bank in order to minimize the slope of the line connectingthe two monitored groups. This display makes it easy for the operator tosee intuitively how the system is controlling the capacitor to implementthe optimization for the EEDS 700.

FIG. 13 is the final chart of the overall VCC 200, EVP 600, and EPP 1700processes used together that not only optimizes the VCC process but alsooptimizes the EEDS EPP process by selecting the best improvements to bemade to improve the reliability of the EEDS voltage control and alsoimproves the VCC process that minimizes real-time losses in the EEDS andED. This continuous improvement process for the EEDS 700 optimizes theEEDS both continuously in near time intervals as well as over longerperiods of time allowing the optimization of the EEDS over planningreview cycles to focus on system modifications that allow overallimprovements in the EEDS optimization level by extending the ability tooperate on more efficient boundary conditions.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent ofthe United States is:
 1. A control system for an electric power gridconfigured to supply electric power from a supply point to a pluralityof consumption locations, the system comprising: a plurality of sensors,wherein each sensor is located at a respective one of a plurality ofdistribution locations on the electric power grid at or between thesupply point and at least one of the plurality of consumption locations,and wherein each sensor is configured to sense at least one component ofa supplied electric power received at the respective consumptionlocation and at least one of the plurality of sensors is configured togenerate measurement data based on the sensed component of the power; acontroller configured to receive the measurement data from the sensorsand to communicate with at least one component adjusting device toadjust a component of the electric power grid, wherein the controller isconfigured to search one or more boundary conditions and to determine atleast one control point of the at least one component adjusting devicethat minimizes at least one linear power loss model; wherein the atleast one component adjusting device is configured to adjust a componentof the electric power grid based on the at least one control point. 2.The control system of claim 1, wherein the at least one linear powerloss model includes a power loss model from an upstream location to adownstream location.
 3. The control system of claim 1, wherein the atleast one linear power loss model includes a power loss from an energysupply system to an energy usage system.
 4. The control system of claim1, wherein the at least one linear power loss model includes a powerloss from a conservation voltage reduction in an energy usage system. 5.The control system of claim 1, wherein the component of the electricpower is voltage.
 6. The control system of claim 5, wherein thecomponent adjusting device includes at least one independent variablevoltage control device.
 7. The control system of claim 6, wherein eachof the subsets corresponds to a respective zone of the electric powergrid and each of the at least one independent variable voltage controldevice corresponds to a respective block or zone of the electric powergrid.
 8. The control system of claim 1, wherein the controller isconfigured to build the linear model at least partially from themeasurement data.
 9. The control system of claim 1, wherein thecontroller is configured to search one or more boundary conditions usinglinear optimization.
 10. The control system of claim 1, wherein thecontroller is further configured to receive measurement data from eachsensor of a subset of the plurality of sensors, and the subset is fewerthen all of the plurality of sensors receiving supplied electric power.11. The control system of claim 10, wherein the subset is chosen basedon a characteristic of the sensor.
 12. The control system of claim 11,wherein the characteristic is that the sensors are within a specificblock electric power grid.
 13. The control system of claim 10, whereinthere are a plurality of said subsets, each corresponding to arespective block of the electric power grid, and the controller isfurther configured to determine a minimum slope of an average blockvoltages.
 14. The control system of claim 1, wherein the linear powerloss model utilizes a per unit value for the component of the power. 15.The control system of claim 1, wherein the linear power loss model is abasis for comparison for fingerprinting of abnormal voltage operationindication for alarming and control.
 16. The control system of claim 1,wherein the controller is further configured to simultaneously solve theboundary search using minimum voltages for an energy usage system to anenergy delivery system point and a minimum voltage slope from theelectrical location of the at least one component adjusting device. 17.A non-transitory computer readable media having instructions for acontrol system for an electric power grid configured to supply electricpower from a supply point to a plurality of consumption locations, theinstructions comprising: a sensor receiving instruction configured toreceive measurement data from at least one of a plurality of sensors,wherein each sensor is located at a respective one of a plurality ofdistribution locations on the electric power grid at or between thesupply point and at least one of the plurality of consumption locations,and wherein each sensor is configured to sense at least one component ofa supplied electric power received at the respective distributionlocation, a controller instruction configured to search one or moreboundary conditions and to determine at least one control point of atleast one component adjusting device that minimizes at least one linearpower loss model; a component adjusting instruction configured tocommunicate with at least one component adjusting device and to causethe at least one component adjusting device to adjust a component of theelectric power grid based on the at least one control point.
 18. Thecomputer readable media of claim 17, wherein the at least one linearpower loss model includes a power loss model from an upstream locationto a downstream location.
 19. The computer readable media of claim 17,wherein the at least one linear power loss model includes a power lossfrom an energy supply system to an energy usage system.
 20. The computerreadable media of claim 17, wherein the at least one linear power lossmodel includes a power loss from a conservation voltage reduction in anenergy usage system.
 21. The computer readable media of claim 17,wherein the component of the electric power is voltage.
 22. The computerreadable media of claim 21, wherein the component adjusting deviceincludes at least one independent variable voltage control device. 23.The computer readable media of claim 22, wherein each of the subsetscorresponds to a respective zone of the electric power grid and each ofthe at least one independent variable voltage control device correspondsto a respective block or zone of the electric power grid.
 24. Thecomputer readable media of claim 17, wherein the controller instructionis configured to build the linear model at least partially from themeasurement data.
 25. The computer readable media of claim 17, whereinthe controller instruction is configured to search one or more boundaryconditions using linear optimization.
 26. The computer readable media ofclaim 17, wherein the controller instruction is further configured toreceive measurement data from each sensor of a subset of the pluralityof sensors, and the subset is fewer then all of the plurality of sensorsreceiving supplied electric power.
 27. The computer readable media ofclaim 26, wherein the subset is chosen based on a characteristic of thesensor.
 28. The computer readable media of claim 27, wherein thecharacteristic is that the sensors are within a specific block electricpower grid.
 29. The computer readable media of claim 26, wherein thereare a plurality of said subsets, each corresponding to a respectiveblock of the electric power grid, and the controller is furtherconfigured to determine a minimum slope of an average block voltages.30. The computer readable media of claim 17, wherein the linear powerloss model utilizes a per unit value for the component of the power. 31.The computer readable media of claim 17, wherein the linear power lossmodel is a basis for comparison for fingerprinting of abnormal voltageoperation indication for alarming and control.
 32. The computer readablemedia of claim 17, wherein the controller instruction is furtherconfigured to simultaneously solve the boundary search using minimumvoltages for an energy usage system to an energy delivery system pointand a minimum voltage slope from the electrical location of the at leastone component adjusting device.